In response to a trade deficit in Europe, US President Donald Trump allegedly insisted that the European Union (EU) would consider waiving food production methods banned in Europe as a part of the countries' trade deal. The said consideration focused on the inclusion of chemically-washed chicken products from the US to Europe. 

The US would insist on the inclusion of politically sensitive topics come negotiations between the country and the EU, reported LA Times. The report claimed that trump's Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue insisted that the matter would be included during the negotiations of the transatlantic trade deal.

The secretary claimed that Brussels and the rest of the EU should waive the food production methods banned in Europe as their bargaining chip in pushing through with the trade deal. It was also highlighted that Trump already promised the completion of the deal once the European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and the rest of the EU members agree to the condition. 

Perdue also suggested that the EU can only hold their end of the bargain if they first modify food hygiene regulations to alleviate the US trade deficit in agriculture. 

The developments of the trade deal between the nations have already been discussed such as low-level liberalization of agricultural trade. These include the entry of bureaucratic challenges to US oyster imports and other shellfish. Conversely, the EU would also sell apples and pears to the US. 

Last Monday, Perdue told reported that the EU cannot secure the trade deal with the US if their only bargaining chips are pears, apples, and shellfish. He added that the US has a very efficient system of poultry production and that other countries can expect the same quality of imports. 

He also discussed that the chemical peracetic acid is a pathogen reduction treatment, the compound used in producing chemical-washed chicken produce. He then clarified that there is no scientific evidence or that the perception that it is unsafe for human consumption in Europe is not backed by sound science. 

Trump and Von der Leyen already discussed matters about the trade deal during the recent World Economic Forum in Davos. The report then hinted that the failure of the EU to comply with US demands may further delay the intervention's success for weeks. 

 According to Financial Times, Perdue shot down allegations that claimed the US was trying to impose the divide-and-rule strategy during the Brexit issue. 

Perdue said that the US does not desire the UK and EU to have a conflict between them. He claimed that the US would prefer to engage in trade relations with nations that have similar policies such as the UK and EU. 

According to FxStreet, US administration trade policies have shifted to Europe after it called a ceasefire against China. Analysts at Danske Bank claimed that the shift may cause retaliation from the EU and, like in the China-US trade war, Trump's aggressive strategy might backfire.